Dreams are of the utmost importance in a human beings life. At least that’s what were told. Though many of us settle for lives and decisions that put us further away from our dreams and into suburban homes and cookie cutter lifestyles; we still collectively embrace and celebrate those who accomplish their dreams. After all any artistic award or sports championship is really just the confirmation of years of individual dedication and sacrifice to attain accomplishments and skills that most ordinary never had the time nor commitment to accomplish.
So it’s with that in mind that it is easy for us compare the amount of awards and accolades someone wins and use that as a barometer of success not just in their professional pursuit but in life in totality. But what happens when only 1 thing comes to define your life, when your entire life’s goal is one, singular obsession?
Man on Wire shows us that singular obsession can envelop and kill life, yet it can also produce singular moments of beauty that no amount of awards can do justice.
The film itself is a documentary on the life of Philippe Petit, a high-wire artist who on August 7th, 1974 illegally tightrope walked across the Twin Towers. Starting from the inception of his dream ( which begins in a French dentist office due to a toothache), Petit stumbles across a magazine showing the height of the soon to be built Twin Towers which at the time of their completion became the tallest buildings in the world. Petit becomes so enamored in the article that he rips it out of the magazine and takes it home with him ignoring the dentist and his toothache entirely.
This simple introduction is subtle but powerful. As Petit himself says “I would have a toothache for a week, but whats the pain when I know now that I have accquired my dream?” ( Man on Wire)
With that we are gradually introduced to all of Petit’s friends and accomplices who helped him illegally set up the rigging and wire to accomplish his incredible stunt. From “The Australian” Mark, to his girlfriend Annie, each person brings a unique view and skill to compliment Petit on his incredible dream which brings together a communal aspect to the story that one would not have otherwise noticed.
Sprinkled in between the interviews and recreations of the setup for the stunt is actual footage from the media covering Petit’s walk as it happened in real time.
It all culminates in showing us Petit’s incredible tightrope walk across the towers as he achieves his ultimate dream.
Because unlike a quintessential Hollywood film there is no and they lived happily ever after, in fact the end is sudden and contemplative. There is no mention of what happens to Petit and his friends after his walk and the only thing we know for certain is that he soon broke up with his girlfriend afterwards. Though they happily give interviews about Petit’s walk, we learn very little about what happened to them individually afterwards. There is a sense of sorrow and pain in the end. Though I believe it is in this sudden and direct ending that the film reminds us of what dreams are all about.
Once Petit accomplishes his dream there really isn’t that much else in his life that is as important. It is safe to assume that the biggest adventure anyone in the film had in their entire lives was helping Petit walk across the Twin Towers. In this sense the film reminds us of the strange nature of dreams. Because although we assume that they are worth working towards and accomplishing, there is a dual pain associated with dreams.
On the one hand it is a shame to never achieve your dream, but on the other what happens to you after you achieve it?
The film’s answer is that it doesn’t matter. If your dream is big enough, it is more than worth it to have it consume your life in the face of it. Because even though Petit would never pull off a stunt to match his Twin Towers walk, the sheer fact that he pulled it off shows that it was worth doing. And though his life nor that of his friend’s would ever match that level of fame and glory ever again, they still for one moment, helped a man walk 1300 feet above the ground in an incredible display.
And that one moment, can be worth a lifetime.